Response of Topical Capsaicin in Alopecia Areata

University of Minnesota - Clinical and Translational Science Institute

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:

NCT00176969

First Posted: September 15, 2005

Last Update Posted: June 2, 2014

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Information provided by (Responsible Party):

University of Minnesota - Clinical and Translational Science Institute

It has been postulated that Alopecia Areata (AA) is, at least in part, a neurologically mediated disease. Research supporting this theory includes the finding that nerves surrounding the hair follicles are collapsed. We want to take this research a step further and show that not only are these perifollicular nerves collapsed, but that their function is also impaired.

Detailed Description

To assess the function of perifollicular scalp nerves in AA we will look at the response of these nerves to the topical medication capsaicin. Under normal circumstances topical capsaicin is known to target nerves in the peripheral nervous system causing short-term release of the neuropeptide Substance P (SP) as well as long-term transient depletion of SP. We expect the AA patients will respond abnormally to topical capsaicin treatment.